Surat: Lashing out at UPA government at the Centre and the BJP government in Gujarat, former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati said that poverty and unemployment are the main reasons for the dalits, poor and unemployed youths being attracted to Naxalism.

While addressing a rally in poll-bound Gujarat, she said, “We (BSP) have raised the issue of reservation for religious minorities and poor in forward castes.”

The BSP supremo also said that the Centre’s faulty policies are responsible for its failure in eradicating poverty. She charged the Gujarat government of adopting similar ineffective policies, saying, “There is no sign of reduction in poverty level in Gujarat. Corruption in Gujarat has increased.”

“After 60 years of independence, dalits and backward classes are being neglected by the society. Dalits have been harassed physically and financially. Dalits remained deprived of basic facilities which are the main reasons for dalit turning to naxalism,” she said in Surat.

BSP has fielded 163 candidates for the 182 Gujarat Assembly seats going to polls on December 13 and 17. Counting of votes is slated on December 20.